Operations have been postponed at Hairmyres Hospital

NHS Lanarkshire confirmed it was postponing all non-urgent operations for the next two days at its three acute hospitals - Hairmyres in East Kilbride, Monklands in Airdrie and Wishaw General.

The trust says the situation has arisen because of a huge rise in patient numbers, partly caused by the closure of the Victoria Infirmary.

But the board stressed the move was not related to the winter vomiting virus that has affected patients and staff at the Victoria and more than a dozen other Scottish hospitals.

At least 295 staff and patients at the Victoria Infirmary on the south side of Glasgow have been affected by the bug.

The hospital said it hoped to start admitting emergency cases again on Friday, and all patients on Sunday.

Cleaning effort

Additional infection control nurses and expert laboratory staff are being sent to the hospital to help relieve the workers who are tackling the virus.

Scottish health minister Malcolm Chisholm said a senior full-time trust manager would be sent in to the Victoria to step up the cleaning effort in parts of the hospital now being emptied of patients.

NHS Scotland chief executive Trevor Jones has also been asked to investigate the handling of the outbreak "as a matter of urgency".

It is vital that people with health concerns don't feel inhibited from seeking medical attention

Sheila McGoran, Lanarkshire Health Council

The health minister said there were questions to be answered as to why a salmonella outbreak, which killed three elderly patients, had spread within the same hospital.

Fourteen other Scottish hospitals have been affected by the bug, from Melrose in the Borders as far north as Aberdeen.

Cases have also been reported in Manchester, Swansea and across the south of England.

It is expected that 51 non-urgent operations will be postponed at the three Lanarkshire hospitals, although all planned urgent, cancer and day case surgical operations will go ahead.

Lanarkshire Health Council Chief Officer Sheila McGoran said the public should not be afraid to seek treatment.

Winter virus

She said: "It is vital that people with health concerns have access to services and don't feel inhibited from seeking medical attention.

"What is being asked for in Lanarkshire is that where it is appropriate patients contact their GP in the first instance.

"It is our duty all to act responsibly particularly during this period to ensure that beds are available for those who need them most."

The board confirmed there were no cases of the winter vomiting virus in any of any of Lanarkshire's acute hospitals.